Thailand's Ariya captures third straight LPGA title

Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn won her third consecutive LPGA title on Sunday, firing a final round 5-under par 67 to win the inaugural Volvik Championship by five strokes over American Christina Kim.

Ariya became the first player to capture her first three LPGA crowns in consecutive fashion, and the 20-year-old from Bangkok moved within two of the tour record of five straight wins shared by Sweden's Annika Sorenstam and American Nancy Lopez.

Ariya became the first Thai player to win an LPGA title by taking the Yokohama Tire Classic in Alabama earlier this month and added the Kingsmill Championship two weeks ago.

"It feels easier," Ariya said. "I got a little bit excited before this crowd, but I just decided I would do what is under my control."

Ariya is the first LPGA player to win three events in a row since South Korea's Park In-bee in 2013.

She will skip next week's Shoprite LPGA Classic to focus on the Women's PGA Championship at Sammamish, Washington, from June 9-12.

"To be honest, my goal is I really want to win my first major," Ariya said.

Asked what she will do on her week off, Ariya was succinct: "Practice harder."

Ariya finished 72 holes at Ann Arbor, Michigan, on 15-under 273.

Kim was second at 278 after a closing 71 with Canada's Brooke Henderson and American Jessica Korda, the 23-year-old daughter of former ATP standout Petr Korda, sharing third place at 279.

Agence France-Presse